19. If pronouns of different persons are to be used together in a sentence, the serial order of persons
should be as follows; second person + third + first person in a good normal sentences. But in fault is
to be confessed, the order will be; first person + second person + third person.
You, he and I have finished the work. Normal sentences
I, you and he are to blame. Confession
Ram, I and you have finished our studies. Incorrect
You, Ram and I have finished our studies. Correct
20. Some is used in affirmative sentences to express quantity or degree. Any is uses in negative
or interrogative sentences.
I shall buy some apples.
I shall not buy any apples.
Have you bought any apples?
But some may be correctly used in interrogative sentences which are, in fact, requests.
Will you please give me some milk?
I shall read any book. Incorrect
I shall read some book. Correct
Have you bought some apples? Incorrect
Have you bought any apples? Correct
21. The use of few, a few and the few should be used with care. They denote number.
Few means not many. It is the opposite of many. A few is positive and means some at least. It is
the opposite of none. The few means whatever there is.
A few men are free from fault. Incorrect
Few men are free from fault. Correct
Here the sense is negative and thus a few is wrong.
Few boys will pass in the examination. Incorrect
A few boys will pass in the examination. Correct
Here the sense is positive and thus few is incorrect.
I have already read a few books that are on the bookshelf. Incorrect
I have already read t he few books that are on the bookshelf. Correct
Here the sense is whatever there is.
22. Use of less and fewer
Less denote quantity and fewer denote number.
No less than fifty persons were killed. Incorrect
No fewer than fifty persons were killed. Correct
There are no fewer than five litres of water in the jug. Incorrect
There are no less than five litres of water in the jug. Correct
23. Use of little, a little, the little.
Little means hardly any
There is a little hope of his recovery. Incorrect
There is a little hope of his recovery correct
A little means some, though not much.
Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Incorrect
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Correct
The little means not much but all there is.
The little milk that is in the pot may be used for the patient. Incorrect
The little milk that is in the pot may be used for the patient. Correct
24. Use of elder, older.
Older refers to persons as well as things and is followed by than.
Ram is elder than all other boys of this area. Incorrect
Ram is older than all other boys of this area. Correct
Elder is used for members of the family.
Suresh is my older brother. Incorrect
Suresh is my elder brother. Correct
25. normally than is used in the comparative degree, but with words like superior, inferior, senior,
junior, prior, anterior, posterior and prefer to is used.
Shelley is junior than Wordsworth. Incorrect
Shelley is junior to Wordsworth. Correct
I prefer reading than sleeping. Incorrect
I prefer reading to sleeping. Correct
26. when a comparison is made by using a comparative followed by than, the word other must be
exclude the thing compared form the class of things with which it is compared.
He is stronger than any man. Incorrect
He is stronger than any other man. Correct
Any man includes the man himself and thus the sentences will be absurd.
27. In some cases, the comparison is subtle and must be given proper attention.
The climate of Ranchi is better then Gaya. Incorrect
Here the comparison should be between the climate of Ranchi and the climate of Gaya.
The climate of Ranchi is better than the climate of Gaya. Correct
Or
49. If, in a sentence, two actions are indicated and both are to take place in future, the sequence of
tense will be as follows:
The principal clause in present indefinite; and the subordinate clause in future indefinite.
If I go the Delhi, I shall attend the seminar.
If I go to Delhi is the principal clause and I shall attend the seminar is the subordinate clause.
If it will rain, I shall not attend the meeting. Incorrect
If it rains, I shall not attend the meeting. Correct
50. When an action has taken place in two clauses of a sentence, it is used in both the clauses
according to the requirement.
My brother has and is still doing excellent work for his
organisation. Incorrect
M y brother has done and is still doing excellent work for his
Organisation. Correct
51. When there is a sense of continuity, that is, when a thing has taken place in the past and still
continue in the present, the prefect continues tense form of t he verb should be used.
Indian is independent for the last forty six years. Incorrect
Indian has been independent for the last forty six years. Correct
The use of article is also an important matter and one must be careful about it.
52. before a consonant a is used.
A boy, a horse, a woman.
But a is also used before words like university, useful, unicorn, union, European, and one, etc.,
because these words began with a consonant sound.
Here is an university. Incorrect
Here is a university. Correct
An European lives in my area. Incorrect
A European lives in my area. Correct
It is a one - rupees note. Incorrect
It is a one rupee note. Correct
52. Similarly, words like hour, honest, heir, etc, take an before them as they begin with a vowel
sound.
I have been waiting for him for a hour. Incorrect
I have been waiting for him for an hour. Correct
53. Some important points to remember regarding the omission of a/an/the:
1. Before a common noun used in its widest sense, e.g.
Man us mortal.
8. The should be used before both comparative degrees when they are used in a sentence for
proportion.
Higher we go, cooler we feel. Incorrect
The higher we go, the cooler we feel. Correct
55. What to speak of is incorrect; the correct expression is not to speak of.
What to speak of running, he cannot even walk. Incorrect
Not to speak of running, he cannot even walk. Correct
56. When there is the sense of dislike, hesitation, risk, etc., in a sentence, we should use a gerund
instead of a verb. A gerund is that form of the verb which ends in ing and can be used in the place
of a noun.
I dislike to see a film late in the night.
I dislike to seeing a film late in the night.
Young girls hesitate to talk to strangers.
Young girls hesitate talking to strangers.
`57. Cent per cent and word by word are wrong. Hundred per cent and word for word are correct
expressions.
You are never cent per cent sure of your success in a incorrect
competitive examinations.
You are never hundred per cent sure of your success in correct
A competitive examination.
I can reproduce this lesson word by word. Incorrect
I can reproduce this lesson word for word. Correct
58. Since, because, as, for, - all means because, but there is a different in their degree. Since
and because are used for stronger cases and as and for for weak cases.
I respect him as he is my teacher. Incorrect
I respect him because he is my teacher. Correct
59. Use of when and while: Proper attention must be paid to these words. when indicates a
general sense and while implies a time during the process of doing a work.
When learning to swim, one of the most important things is to incorrect
relax.
While learning to swim, one of the most important things is to correct
relax.
60. Sometimes the error lies in the use of words. Proper attention must therefore, be given to
appropriateness of words.
Prakash was leading a happy and leisurely life after his retirement
form his service. Incorrect
Prakash was living a happy and leisurely life after his retirement
form his service. Correct
61. If in a sentence an apposition has been used, the verb will follow not the apposition but the noun
or pronoun preceding it.
You, my son, is a good boy. Incorrect
You, my son, are a good boy. Correct
62. Proper, abstract and material nouns have no plural except when they are used as common
nouns.
The house is built of bricks. Incorrect
The house is built of bricks.
Correct
63. Clauses in sentences beginning with a relative pronoun (who, which, that) take a verb according
to the noun or pronoun preceding the relative pronoun.
It is I who has done it. Incorrect
It is I who have done it. Correct
64. The relative pronoun should be near as possible to its antecedent so that no ambiguity arises.
The boy is my cousin who stood first in the mile race.
The boy, who stood first in the mile race, is my cousin.
65. When two singular nouns joined by and are preceded by each or every the pronoun used for
them is singular.
Each man and each boy is responsible for their action. Incorrect
Each man and each boy is responsible for his action. Correct
66. Sometimes a pronoun is used w here it is not required at all.
He being an M.A., he is qualified for the post. Incorrect
He, being an M.A., is qualified for the post. Correct
67. If a pronoun comes after a preposition it should be used in the objective case.
Between you and I neither of us is correct. Incorrect
Between you and me neither of us is correct. Correct
68. When a pronoun come after like and unlike it takes objective case.
A man like I will not do it. Incorrect
A man like me will not do it. Correct
69. A pronoun takes an objective case after let.
Let I do it. Incorrect
Let me do it. Correct
70. Pronoun joined by and remain in the same case.
The man and his dog which passed through this road were incorrect
killed.
The man and his dog passed through this road were killed. Correct
78. The case of the noun or pronoun preceding or succeeding the verb to be should be the same.
It is him who came to see us. Incorrect
It is he who came to see us. Correct
It is me who caught the thief. Incorrect
It is I who caught the thief. Correct
79. when two qualities of a person or thing compared more or less is used before the adjective
and the adjective following them take positive degree.
Suman is better than brave. Incorrect
Suman is more good than brave. Correct
80. When two or more adjectives are used to show the qualities of the same man or thing, al the
adjectives must be in the same degree.
Sita is more intelligent and wise than Rita. Incorrect
Sita is more intelligent and wiser than Rita. Correct
81. Very is used with adjectives in the positive degree and with present participles.
He is much stronger man. Incorrect
He is a very strong man. Correct
It is a man interesting book. Incorrect
It is very interesting book. Correct
Much is used with adjectives in the comparative degree and with past participles.
He is very stronger than I am. Incorrect
He is much stronger than I am. Correct
I am very obliged to my friend. Incorrect
I am much obliged to my friend. Correct
82. To show equality as is used before and after the adjective.
I can run as fast, if not faster, than you. Incorrect
I can run as fast as, if not faster, than you. Correct
83. Certain adjectives do not admit of comparison and thus they always remain in the positive
degree.
Absolute, annual, chief, circular, complete, entire, extreme, excellent, full, impossible
perfect, right, round, unique, universal, whole, etc.
84. More than one indicates a plural sense, but it is treated as a sort of compound of one. Thus it
agrees with a singular noun and takes a singular verb.